Page 16 of Embrace of the Russian Tiger

“I’ll consider it,” I replied. “I don’t want to show my hand too soon, but ignoring him isn’t an option, either. He’s too clever for that. I need to know what he’s after.”

Mikhail leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Nikolai always had that way about him. He could get into people’s heads, make them think he was doing them a favor even when he was using them. But back then, he didn’t have the power you do now. You have the upper hand this time.”

“I know.” My voice was firm, but inside, the thought of Nikolai still gnawed at me. He had known me when I was young, back when I wasn’t the man I am now. He had known us—me and Katya, together. He had seen parts of me that no one in my current world had ever seen. And that made him dangerous in a different way.

“Keep an eye on things,” I told Mikhail. “If Nikolai is back in the city, I want to know everything about his movements. Who he’s talking to, where he’s going. I don’t want any surprises.”

Mikhail gave a curt nod. “I’ll handle it.”

As Mikhail stood to leave, I felt a familiar sense of heaviness settle over me. This life—this empire I had built—was supposed to be about control, about keeping emotions locked away and making rational decisions. But lately, that control had been slipping. First with Anna, and now with Nikolai resurfacing.

I couldn’t afford to be distracted by the past. I had spent years turning myself into the man I needed to be—cold, ruthless, untouchable. But now, ghosts were rising from the grave, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face them.

“I’ll figure it out,” I muttered under my breath, mostly to myself.

Mikhail, halfway to the door, glanced back at me. “You always do.”

As the door closed behind him, I found myself staring at my reflection in the darkened window. The skyline of the city stretched out before me, vast and glittering, but all I could see was the boy I had once been. The boy who had looked up to Nikolai, who had loved his sister with all his heart. The boy who had lost everything.

CHAPTER 9

The bustling city noises surrounded me as I exited the sleek black car, the energy of people living their lives filling the air. It was the first time in weeks that I had been allowed to venture out without one of Maxim's guards shadowing my every move. The feeling of freedom, or at least a semblance of it, was exhilarating.

As the sunlight hit my face, I closed my eyes for a brief moment, relishing in the warmth. I was actually out. It felt surreal after being confined for so long.

Of course, I wasn’t truly free. I still had Maxim's men watching over me from a distance, and I could feel their presence even from afar. But this was progress. I had convinced Maxim to let me have some space and normalcy, even if it was only for a few hours.

"I just want to go to the library," I had told him.

He had studied me with his usual unreadable expression before finally giving in. "But you won't be alone."

His lack of emotion irritated me, but I didn't want to push my luck or ruin this small victory. So, I found myself walkingthrough the busy streets of town towards the library, reveling in my newfound freedom.

The library was a grand old building just a few blocks away with a welcoming entrance. For a moment, I allowed myself to feel happy. The library had always been my sanctuary - even as a child lost in a chaotic world, books had been my escape and comfort.

As I entered the library, the cool air and familiar scent of old books enveloped me like an old friend. It was peaceful inside, and as I wandered through the shelves with my fingers trailing over the spines of books, I almost forgot about everything else - about Maxim, about our contract, about this life that had been forced upon me.

Almost.

I selected a light and easy book to lose myself in and made my way to the counter. The librarian, a friendly older woman, smiled at me as she checked out my book. I thanked her and clutched the book to my chest as I turned to leave.

And then I felt it.

A prickling sensation at the back of my neck, making the hairs on my arms stand up. I froze, scanning my surroundings, but there was nobody near me. The library was mostly empty, with only a few students hunched over their books in one corner. I tried to shake off the feeling, reminding myself that it was probably just paranoia from living under Maxim's constant watch.

But as I stepped outside and began walking towards the car that would take me back to the mansion, that uneasy feeling persisted.

Something wasn’t right.

I looked down at the book in my hands, and I see a small piece of paper sticking out from one. With a frown, I opened the book and saw it - a small envelope tucked between the pages.

I stopped walking and quickly glanced around, but the busy street continued on without acknowledging me. With trembling fingers, I opened the envelope and pulled out a single folded piece

You are not who you think you are. Maxim knows everything.

The words were scrawled in messy handwriting, but the message was clear. My heart raced as I read the note again, the world around me spinning for a moment. What the hell did this mean?

I shoved the note back into the envelope, my mind racing. Who had put it there? Who knew about me? And why would they say that Maxim knew everything? Everything about what?

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